The US president will almost certainly be impeached. In other words, the Democrat-controlled House will pass Articles of Impeachment next month and leave a black mark against Trump for the history books.

But for him to be removed from office requires the Republican-controlled Senate to "convict" him by a two-thirds majority.

Without a major surprise in the hearings, that is not going to happen.

So Trump is likely to end this process in the same condition as Bill Clinton in 1998. Impeached but still in office. Wounded but alive.

President Clinton during his grand jury deposition in 1998. Credit: AP